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Judge Reduces Bond In Attempted-Murder Case

Crawford County Circuit Court Judge Gary Cottrell on Friday granted a small bond reduction for a man charged with attempted capital murder who has been held on a $150,000 bond since April.

Jack Lee Goss, 52, of Cedarville is also charged with aggravated residential and aggravated assault.

Goss is accused of entering his ex-girlfriend’s home on April 23 and shooting Leslie Louis Fornoff, 45, of Fort Smith in the arm with a 12-gauge shotgun. Goss was arrested at his home shortly after the incident.

Roxanne Clark told investigators she was sleeping on a living-room chair and Fornoff was sleeping in her bedroom when Goss arrived, went straight into the bedroom and shot Fornoff after yelling that he had no business in Clark’s bed. She said Goss then came out of the bedroom, pointed the gun at her and said something to the effect that Fornoff should have gotten out, and left.

Before he arrived at the residence, Goss sent Clark a series of threatening text messages, warning that he was armed, on his way to her residence and Fornoff better not be there when he arrived, which investigators recovered.

When Crawford County Sheriff’s deputies and an Arkansas state trooper arrived at Goss’ residence and asked to speak to him, Goss told them, “Yeah, I did it” and told them the weapon was behind a refrigerator, according to an incident report. He later told investigators he only intended to scare Fornoff and the gun accidentally discharged.

Doctors were unable to save Fornoff’s right arm, which was amputated just blow the shoulder.

Attorney Lucas Gramlich, representing Goss, sought either a signature bond or a bond closer to $10,000 with ankle monitoring for Goss. He told Cottrell that Clark was in the courtroom and she was OK with a signature bond.

Gramlich said he was unable to contact Fornoff, who he believes is now living out-of-state.

Gramlich said Goss has been a resident of Crawford County for several years, has strong family ties to the community and his primary income is a disability check, which he couldn’t collect if he fled.

Deputy prosecutor Scott Houston told Cottrell the state objected to lowering the bond based on the serious nature of the charges.

Attempted capital murder and aggravated residential burglary are both Class Y felonies punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Aggravated assault is a Class D felony punishable by up to six years in prison.

Cottrell told Gramlich his decision was “not much help” but did lower Goss’ bond to $100,000.